Automatic match lighter



Sept 24, 19355.

c. c. SEVERIN AUTOMATIC MATCH LIGHTER Filed Aug. 21, 1934 CC. Severin Patented Sept. 24, 1935 UNITED STATS 5 Claims.

My invention relates to automatic match lighters, its object being the provision of a device for dispensing matches one at a time and in lighted condition.

Another of my objects is the provision of a device for receiving and holding a box of matches for delivery one at a time into a channel from which the matches are forcibly ejected in the direction of their length and caused to ignite by impact with an abrasive surface.

Another object which I have in view is the prooperable clamp for releasably holding the match while it is burning. v

Having in view these objects and others which will be pointed out in the following description, I will-now refer to the drawing, in which Figure 1 is a view in perspective of my automatic match lighter, portions being broken away to disclose otherwise concealed parts.

Figure 2 is a view in perspective showing the match box holder of my match lighter with a match box in position in the holder.

Figure 3 is a vertical-sectional view showing particularlythe match slot and hole and their relation to the lever for releasing and'ejecting a match.

Figure 4 isa view in horizontal section through the base of my device showing particularly the relation between the ejecting lever and the channel through which the match is ejected.

Figure 5 is a view in elevation showing the match holding device and the mechanism for automatically clamping the match. I

The base of the device is indicated by the numeral l; Secured to the base It is a wedge block H 'for supporting a match box holder l2 The match box holder I2 is provided with a slot which communicates with a groove 13 in the base H3. As shown in Figure 3 the groove has a rounded bottom for supporting the match while it is being ejected. The groove is substantially of the same length as that of the match or a little longer. The block is also recessed at M with an elongated slot at I 5, the slot l communicating with the recess [4. The slot it as shown in Figure 3' passes through the match channel of the block It The ejecting lever l6 passes through the slot l5 and into the recess I4 where it is anchored at IT. The lever I6 is normally held in the full line position of Figure 4 by means of any suitable spring device such as that shown at I8 in Figure 4. The ejecting lever It can thus readily be pulled from its full line 5 position to its dotted line position in Figure 4 but when it is released it snaps instantly into the full line position.

The matches are fed one at a time into the groove It to rest on the upper edge of the lever 10 it. When the lever I6 is moved to the dotted line position of Figure 4 the bottom match will be released to fall into the bottom of the groove l3 due to the fact that the lever it may be pulled back beyond the rear edge of the match. The spring 18 is sufliciently powerful to forcibly eject the match when the lever it is released from its dotted line position. The wall at the discharge end of the groove I3 is partly closed in order to provide a suitable exit i3 through 20 which the match may be ejected and to insure substantially straight line movement of the match when it leaves the groove l3. As the match passes out through the opening l3, its straight line movement is maintained by means of the trough l3a which projects from the base l5.

The match box holder i2 is best shown in Figures 1 and 2. This consists of a base which is secured to the wedge H. The base is crimped transversely in two places for adjustably positioning the match box clamp l9. Rising from one lateral edge of the base is a side wall 20 which Any desirable pressure may be'obtained between the clamp and the side wall 20. The upper portion 2! of the clamp is slidable in up and down direction relative to the portion l9 of the clamp. In this manner it is possible to provide a clamping action against the match box between the 40 clamp portion 2| and the base of the match box holder. The match box 22 is thus firmly clamped in the match box holder. It should be noted that the wall Zll is partly broken away in the Figure 1 View in order to more clearly disclose the clamping member Hi.

As shown in Figure 2 the side wall 28 is provided in its middle with a cutaway portion. When the match box is clamped into the holder as shown in Figure 2 a portion of the roughened surface of the match box is thus exposed at 23. When it is desired to strike a match in the usual manner it will be found that ample roughened surface is exposed for this purpose.

, The exit it of the slot It will guide the outward movement of the match as it is being forcibly ejected when the lever I6 is released. The matches are so positioned that they leave the slot |3 with the head end first. Their movement is substantially in a straight line. For lighting the matches I provide a lighting surface 24 in the direct path of the match 25 as it is shot out through the exit |3'. This lighting surface 24 may be of any suitable form such as a plurality of serrated blades secured to a base. A lip 25 projects downwardly and rearwardly from the base as shown in Figure 1. The base with its serrated blades 24 is supported in position by means of a frame 21 which is secured to the base ID to project therefrom.

Means are also provided for grasping the match 25 at the moment that it strikes the lighting surface 24, These means include a clamp comprising stationary jaws 28 and movable jaws 29. This clamp is secured to the frame 21 in a position such that the match is shot through the clamp. It is therefore necessary that the jaws 29 be moved to closing position at about the time when the match head strikes the lighting surface 24.

The jaws 29 are secured to a leaf which in turn is secured to the slotted lever 3|]. An irregularly curved lever 3| is journaled at 32 and thus secured to the frame 21. The curved lever 3| has a curved free end portion which travels in the slot of the lever 30. The pivotal movements of the lever 3| are thus communicated to the lever 3!! to move the jaws 29 toward or away from clamping relation with the fixed jaws 28. In the position shown in Figure the jaws are spaced to permit the passage of the match but as shown in Figure l the jaws are in closed position to hold the match. The jaws 28 and 29 are made of a light resilient material so that the match 25 may be easily removed.

The irregularly curved lever 3| is provided with an aperture 33 for receiving a rod 34 which is connected to the lever I6 and movable thereby whenever the lever I6 is moved. The rod 34 has an outwardly curved end which engages the lever 3! at the time when the lever l6 has been drawn back a sufiicient distance into the dotted line position of Figure 4. Further movement of the lever l6 then causes movement of the lever 3| to move the jaws 29 to open position. The lever l6 then reaches its extreme position as shown in dotted lines in Figure 4 from which it may be released suddenly to eject the match. At this time the jaws 28 and 29 are in the open position shown in Figure 5 but these jaws must be closed at about the time when the match strikes the lighting surface 24. The rod 34 is provided with a stop 35 which suddenly engages the lever 3| when the lever I6 is released. The blow imparted to the lever 3| by the stop 35 causes the movement of the lever 3| to close the jaws 29 against the fixed jaws 28.

The tray 36 is positioned underneath the clamping device 2829 and the match lighting device 24. The tray is designed primarily for the reception of burnt matches but it will also receive sparks which might otherwise cause damage. Should the clamp fail to retain the match after it is lit, the match will fall into the tray. The tray 36 is removable to facilitate the removal of its contents and for this purpose it is provided with a wire frame 31 which may be releasably secured to the base IO.

My automatic match lighter is designed primarily for use in stores where cigars and tobacco are sold. The entire box of matches is placed in position on the match box holder and is clamped thereto by sliding the clamping members I9 and 2| into clamping engagement with the box. The 5 matches will tend to fall into the groove l3 where they will rest on the lever it. The movement of the lever I5 to its dotted line position in Figure 4 will allow one match to drop into the path of the lever so that when the lever is released it will 10 engage the rear end of the match to eject it forcibly through the aperture I3. The match clamp being open at the time, the forward portion of the match will pass through the clamp. In positioning the match box on the match box holder l2, care should be taken to be sure that the match heads are at their forward ends during ejection. The impact of the match head with the lighting surface 24 causes the match to light but at the same time the adjustable stop member 35 engages the lever 3| to close the jaws of the match clamping device. At this point the match will be clamped at its rear end and it will be burning and ready for delivery. Since the clamping members 28 and 29 are made of light and resilient material, the match 25 can be easily withdrawn from the clamp. The parts are then ready for the delivery of another match by movement and release of the lever I6. Should the lever I6 be actuated before the burning match 25 has 30 been removed, the automatic opening of the clamping jaws will cause the match 25 to drop into the tray.

It is very seldom that a match will fail to ignite when it strikes the surface 24. If it does fail to ignite, it may simply be removed from the clamp and ignited in the usual manner against the roughened surface 23 of the match box 22.

Having thus described my invention in such full, clear, and exact terms that its construction and operation will be readily understood by others skilled in the art to which it pertains, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In an automatic match lighter, a base having a groove for receiving matches, means adapted to act against the rear extremity of a match for forcibly ejecting the match in the direction of the length of the groove, a match lighting member interposed in the path of the match 2. In an automatic match lighter, a base hav- 65 ing a groove for receiving matches, means adapted to act against the rear extremity of a match for forcibly ejecting the match in the direction of the length of the groove, a match lighting member interposed in the path of the match whereby the match will be ignited by impact against said match lighting member, and a clamp disposed between the lighting member and the base for engaging the rear portion of the match.

3. In an automatic match lighter, a base and a match box holding frame secured thereto,'said base having a groove for receiving the matches from the match box in said match box holding frame, the groove in said base being open in one of its extremities, a spring pressed lever in said base and positioned transversely in the groove thereof, said lever being movable beyond the rear extremity of the lowermost match in the groove whereby release of said lever will forcibly eject the match from the groove through the open extremity thereof, means active when the lever has reached a predetermined position in the ejecting operation for releasably clamping the match, and means for stopping and igniting the match.

4. In an automatic match lighter, a base and a match box holder secured thereto, clamping members on said holder for clamping a match box in inclined relation to said base for. gravity feed of the matches therefrom, said base being provided with a groove for receiving the matches from the match box, a spring actuated lever for forcibly ejecting the matches headfirst from said base in the direction of the length of the groove thereof, a match lighting member in the path of the ejected match whereby the impact of the match head with said match lighting member will cause the match to ignite and means active when the lever has reached a predetermined position in the ejecting operation for releasably clamping the match.

5. In an automatic match lighter, a match lighting member, means for forcibly discharging a match headfirst in the direction of its length to be ignited by impact with said match lighting member, and means for engaging the rear portion of the match while it is being ignited and 

